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Topic: High Tea - S/O from Not one of her Bridesmaids (Read 3491 times)

The Not one of her Bridesmaids thread has led to an interesting discussion- what is High Tea?

My Grandparents kept the tradition of having both afternoon tea and high tea. Afternoon tea was effectively a very elegant snack- a cup of tea with a slice or two of cake, possibly a small sandwich. High tea was a much larger affair with sandwiches, bread and jam, cold meats, pork or veal pies, cakes, trifle etc. served with a lot of tea. It was a meal.

Afternoon tea was served at about 4pm, High Tea was served at about 5.30pm

A hotel in the town used to serve High Tea years ago. You got something like fish and chips, cold meat or salmon and salad, gammon steak etc and a tiered plate with bread and butter and a few small cakes. Tea or coffee. Between 4:30 and 6:30.

I've never experienced high tea here in the US. From reading lots of English novels, it seems to consist of fish and chips and mushy peas. But again, that's from reading novels.

Now, there are places in the US that offer what they call "high tea" but which is actually a formal afternoon tea. Generally with not enough cake and a pretty steep price. Hotels and small restaurants are the worst offenders.

From reading lots of English novels, it seems to consist of fish and chips and mushy peas. But again, that's from reading novels.

I think there is a difference between tea and high tea. Now I'm right up in the North of England, not that far away from the Scottish Border. Whilst High Tea does mean bread, jam, sandwiches, cakes etc as described in my first post, tea also means an evening meal (Breakfast, Dinner and Tea) although in other areas, tea just means high tea (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

High Tea is dinner. I have also heard the term "meat tea", since a main dish would be served. There is an explanation that high tea would be served on a "high" table (dinner table) while afternoon tea would be served on "low tables", such as a center table or side table. I can't remember the source or if it was very reputable, just that the image stayed in my mind.

I live in Scotland and High Tea is very popular here for a weekend meal out. It is usually served from 4pm-6pm ish - first you get a drink can be tea or coffee but also as most places that do serve alcohol can also be alcoholic (usually wine for me ) then once the drinks have been served they bring a plate of toast (with optional butter and jam) at this point they will take orders for your main course - options usually include steak pie, gammon steak, fish and chips and various salads but vary from place to place, once you have had your main course they bring a cake stand full of yummy cakes and scones.

When I was growing up we had Afternoon tea and Sunday Tea in my Grannys house.

Afternoon tea was served at 4pm during days off school like a bank holiday and consisted of egg, cucumber and ham/chicken finger sandwiches, Scones with jam and clotted cream and tea cakes (those different small cream cakes not the chocolate marshmellow biscuit) and was always served on the tiered stands.

Sunday tea was served at 6pm on Sunday and consisted of different salads (green salad, potato salad etc), cut meats (sliced ham/beed and roast chicken), french bread and followed by larger cakes (Victoria sponge, Ginger cake, Meringue).

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My Irish mother will use the phrase "high tea on a low table" when she makes a meal fancier then what it needs to be. For example, she just wants cheese and crackers for a snack in the afternoon, but then gets out the good cheese and all the different meats, and four types of crackers with all sorts of condiments to go with it.